Merck to Acquire Acceleron for $11.5 Billion

Merck and Acceleron Pharma have entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire Acceleron for $180 per share in cash for an approximate total equity value of $11.5 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Acceleron is focused on harnessing the power of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily of proteins that is known to play a central role in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and repair. Acceleron’s lead therapeutic candidate, sotatercept, has a novel mechanism of action with the potential to improve short-term and/or long-term clinical outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a progressive and life-threatening blood vessel disorder. Sotatercept is in Phase 3 trials as add-on to current standard of care for the treatment of PAH.

The FDA has granted Orphan Drug and Breakthrough Therapy designations and the European Commission and European Medicines Agency (EMA) have granted Orphan and Priority Medicines (PRIME) designations, respectively, for sotatercept for the treatment of PAH.

In addition to sotatercept, Acceleron’s portfolio includes Reblozyl (luspatercept-aamt), a first-in-class erythroid maturation recombinant fusion protein approved in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia for the treatment of anemia in certain rare blood disorders. Ongoing Phase 3 trials are evaluating luspatercept for the treatment of anemia in patient populations of myelodysplastic syndromes, beta-thalassemia, and myelofibrosis. Reblozyl is being developed and commercialized through a global collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb.  (Source: Acceleron Pharma Website, 30 September, 2021)